The Packers have climbed out of their early hole, and now the conversation in Green Bay has shifted from survival mode to the kind of roster shopping that comes with a real playoff chase. After opening 1-2, they’ve worked their way within shouting distance of the Minnesota Vikings at the top of the NFC North. That changes the mood fast.
The deadline arriving on November 10th gives Green Bay a window to get stronger, and the need is pretty clear. Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs are both nearing their returns, which already helps. But the Packers still have spots on the roster that need more than hope and reinforcements from the injured list.
With that in mind, here are six possible targets.
At linebacker, Cody Barton of the Titans makes sense as a low-cost stabilizer. Edgerrin Cooper is done for the year with a torn Achilles tendon, and the room behind him looks thin in a hurry.
Ty’Ron Hopper’s breakout came at a good time, but he, Isaiah McDuffie, and Zaire Franklin can’t be expected to cover the whole middle of the field by themselves. Barton is starting for Robert Saleh’s defense in Tennessee, but the Titans have young talent behind him and may be open to moving him.
He’s not a headline-grabber, but he could give the Packers a sturdier floor in a room that can’t afford another setback. He’s under contract through 2027, so this would function as a 1.5-year rental.
Another depth piece worth calling about is cornerback Donte Jackson of the Chargers. Los Angeles has collapsed, and Jackson, who is dealing with a hamstring injury and is considered week-to-week, could become available.
He’s about to turn 31, but when he’s healthy he’s been effective, including a four-interception season last year that led the Chargers. His game fits zone coverage, where he can track the quarterback and break on routes, and that lines up with Jonathan Gannon’s scheme, which is playing zone at a 78.1 percent clip and using two-high shells at a top-five rate.
For a Packers cornerback group that needs bodies, he’s at least worth a look.
The more meaningful upgrade comes on the defensive front with Daron Payne of the Commanders. He doesn’t always pile up the kind of numbers that jump off the page, but he does the dirty work that changes games: holding up against the run, clogging lanes, and letting everyone else play freer.
Green Bay’s closest thing to that kind of gap-plugging tackle right now is rookie Chris McClellan, and he has struggled when available this year. Payne would ease that burden while helping Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks get cleaner chances.
The price is said to be around a fourth-round pick, which is the kind of cost the Packers should be able to stomach for interior stability.
The left guard search gets even more interesting when Landon Dickerson enters the picture. The Packers are currently rolling with Laken Tomlinson, who was signed off the street a few weeks ago, and while Aaron Banks is expected back soon, that doesn’t exactly solve everything.
Dickerson is the sort of proven answer Green Bay needs if it wants a long-term fix. He has dealt with a bone bruise in his right knee and spent time on injured reserve, but Philadelphia has already opened his 21-day practice window, so he should be back soon.
A deal would not come cheaply. Even if the Eagles are willing to move veterans, Dickerson could still cost a second-round pick, a price the Packers would have to weigh carefully.
If the Colts decide to shop veterans after firing general manager Chris Ballard, Daron Payne won’t be the only name drawing calls. DeForest Buckner would be one of the biggest prizes on the market.
At 32, he’s still producing at a high level, with 19 pressures, four sacks, and 11 run stops already this season. He’s a genuine force inside, and unlike some deadline names, this one could come at a relatively manageable cost.
A Day 3 pick might be enough to land him.
And then there’s the biggest swing of all: Quenton Nelson. If there’s a perennial All-Pro who could realistically be moved, he’s the one.
Nelson has made the Pro Bowl every year of his eight-season career, and he’s elite in both the run game and pass protection. He would instantly become the Packers’ best offensive lineman and maybe their best overall offensive player.
He’d also be expensive. He’s in the final year of his contract and would be looking at roughly $24 million on his next deal, on top of the second-round pick it would likely take to pry him away.
But if Green Bay is serious about a Super Bowl push in a wide-open NFC, that kind of cost won’t scare them off.
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Nixon also pointed to the possibility of another major boost on the defensive side in Micah Parsons, who is still working his way back from a knee injury. The Packers have felt the absence of both players in different ways, and the idea of getting even closer to full strength has raised the stakes around what Green Bay could become if those reinforcements continue trending the right direction. [Read more 🡒]